Lavezzi: 'Help Paris win trophies'

After signing a four-year contract on Monday with Paris Saint-Germain, Ezequiel Lavezzi attended his first official press conference at the Parc des Princes. Read on for the first declarations of PSG's new striker...

Ezequiel, three weeks passed between the first contact with Paris Saint-Germain and your signature... Were you ever worried it wasn't going to happen?

"I was never worried. I just enjoyed my holidays, a break from football, but I knew our contact was very solid."

Why France? Do discover a new challenge or above all else, to sign for Paris Saint-Germain? "It was PSG's sporting project that attracted me. I have the chance to play for a big club that's on the rise and will keep on growing."

You know Javier Pastore, your fellow Argentine international. Did you speak with him about signing here? "He obviously told me a lot of good things about the club, but also about the city of Paris. I spoke with him when we were on national team duty together, not when I was on holidays. But yes, we have talked together about Paris Saint-Germain."

Why did you choose Paris-SG when some of Europe's other big clubs were chasing you? "On a sporting level, a club such as Paris Saint-Germain can really help me progress, so I came here for the sporting project. The club will keep getting bigger and bigger in the future. Then there's the city. Everyone dreams of living in Paris. Ligue 1 is very competitive. There is a great project here, the chance to win titles and I plan on doing my bit to make it happen."

You were a hero in Naples. Are you looking forward to meeting your new supporters in Paris? "It's a new challenge and I like that. I'll try and have the same relationship with the supporters here like I did in Italy."

Leonardo, Paris Saint-Germain sporting director:"Ezequiel has signed for 4 years. He's a player that we've been following for a long time and we're very happy to welcome him as part of our club. A very good player has joined the club. He will make history at this club, I'm convinced of that. The club is looking to keep improving the first team, in terms of character and quality. A player like Ezequiel will pull the whole squad to great heights. Paris is looking to the future, a very rich future, I'm sure."